DHL Integrates Rail Freight into Formula 1 Supply Chain to Reduce Transport Emissions

DHL Integrates Rail Freight into Formula 1 Supply Chain to Reduce Transport Emissions

(IN BRIEF) DHL has completed its first-ever rail freight operation for Formula 1 logistics, transporting approximately 50 containers of race equipment from Miami to Montreal during the 2026 season. The pilot shifted around 68 percent of freight that would normally travel by road onto rail, supporting efforts to reduce emissions while maintaining Formula 1’s strict operational timelines. The initiative forms part of DHL and Formula 1’s broader sustainability strategies and could lead to expanded rail logistics operations in North America from 2027 onward.

(PRESS RELEASE) BONN, 20-May-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — DHL Group has successfully completed its first use of rail freight within Formula One logistics operations, marking a new milestone in the companies’ efforts to reduce transport-related emissions across the Formula 1 calendar.

As part of the 2026 season, DHL transported approximately 50 containers of race equipment by rail from Miami, Florida, to Montreal, Canada, covering nearly 2,000 kilometers. The shipment included 46 forty-foot high-cube containers and four 20-foot containers carrying Formula 1 freight.

According to DHL, around 68 percent of the Formula 1 cargo it handled for this route segment, which would traditionally have been transported by road, was instead moved via rail. The pilot was designed to reduce reliance on more carbon-intensive transportation methods while still meeting the strict operational timelines required by the championship.

The rail initiative forms part of DHL’s broader multimodal logistics strategy developed in cooperation with Formula 1 as both organizations continue working toward long-term emissions reduction goals.

Paul Fowler, Head of Global Motorsports Logistics at DHL Global Forwarding, said the successful pilot demonstrates how established transportation modes such as rail can be integrated into highly time-sensitive motorsport logistics operations to support sustainability objectives.

Fowler added that the reliable delivery of all freight involved in the trial confirms rail’s potential to support Formula 1’s demanding international schedule while contributing to lower greenhouse gas emissions and providing a foundation for future logistics innovation.

Throughout the transport process, DHL equipped the containers with tracking devices and shock sensors to monitor cargo handling, transit performance and freight integrity. The operational data collected during the pilot will now be analyzed to evaluate both logistical efficiency and sustainability performance as DHL and Formula 1 assess future opportunities for expanding rail freight usage.

The rail freight project builds on more than two decades of collaboration between DHL and Formula 1 and aligns with Formula 1’s objective of achieving Net Zero carbon emissions by 2030 as well as DHL Group’s own target of reaching Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Rail now joins several other lower-emission logistics solutions already deployed across the Formula 1 calendar. These include the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel through book-and-claim mechanisms for selected air freight operations, which can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent compared to conventional aviation fuel.

In Europe, DHL also operates more than 50 biofuel-powered trucks supporting Formula 1 logistics, with average greenhouse gas emission reductions of approximately 83 percent compared with traditional diesel vehicles.

Additional emissions reduction measures include optimized route planning linked to Formula 1’s increasingly regionalized race calendar, helping reduce transportation distances and improve operational efficiency across the season.

DHL and Formula 1 said the successful Miami-to-Montreal rail pilot provides an important basis for potentially scaling rail freight operations in North America beginning in the 2027 season, subject to scheduling, operational feasibility and performance evaluations from the 2026 trial programme.

DHL – The logistics company for the world

DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With approximately 389,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.

DHL is part of DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of approximately 82.9 billion euros in 2025. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. DHL Group aims to achieve net-zero emissions logistics by 2050.

Media Contact:

Media Relations
Joanna Kruszewski
Phone: +49 228 182-9944
E-mail: pressestelle@dhl.com

SOURCE: DHL Group